Ministers looking for election boost for Rishi Sunak think about revisiting tax cut idea that last surfaced before autumn statementConservative ministers are considering tax cuts and help for first-time buyers in the coming months in the hope of giving Rishi Sunak a pre-election boost.Downing Street officials are thinking about completely scrapping inheritance tax in three months' time, according to the Telegraph, as the prime minister ordered a gear change" on tax. Continue reading...
Jennings says he was not expecting co-host to leave but is eager to equal Alex Trebek's record of 38 years as sole hostKen Jennings says he was as surprised as anyone to learn he would become the solo host of Jeopardy!, the long-running US gameshow.In an interview published on Monday by the Hollywood Reporter, Jennings, the most famous contestant in the quizshow's history, said he was not expecting co-host Mayim Bialik's announcement that she was leaving. Continue reading...
by Mostafa Rachwani and Australian Associated Press on (#6HDMK)
Royal Life Saving Society chief says Australians may not be as strong swimmers as we believe' as December toll hits 22Another person has drowned in New South Wales, adding to the rising drowning death toll that has prompted a warning from lifesavers at what is considered the deadliest time of year.Four people were pulled from the water at Port Stephens on Wednesday afternoon, including a 33-year-old man who could not be revived and died at the scene. Continue reading...
The Australian cook and writer, who taught himself to cook, died peacefully at hospital in London on Christmas DayChefs and writers have taken to social media to remember Bill Granger as a culinary legend" and brilliant" person who exported Australian food culture to the world.The Australian cook and restaurateur died at a hospital in London on Christmas Day, the family of the food writer confirmed on Instagram. He was 54. Continue reading...
Two campers in Victoria and three friends on a fishing trip in Queensland among 10 lives lost as storms ravaged eastern AustraliaThe body of a man has been discovered in flood-affected regional Victoria, taking the death toll from storms that wreaked havoc on eastern Australia over the Christmas period to 10.Victoria police received information on Wednesday that it was believed a man was camping with a woman who was located deceased following flash flooding in Buchan in East Gippsland on 26 December. Continue reading...
Winemakers question plan as government champions Brexit freedom' to allow old-fashioned sizeThe poet Robert Burns imagined a man toasting his lover with a pint o' wine", and Winston Churchill was perhaps the most famous proponent of the pint bottle for champagne. Now, Rishi Sunak's government has spied a Brexit opportunity" to legalise the sale of wine by the pint once more - if it can persuade anyone to make the bottles.Still and sparkling wine will be sold in 200ml, 500ml and 568ml (pint) sizes in 2024, alongside existing measures, under new rules, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) announced on Wednesday. It said the change was made possible by Brexit. Continue reading...
Many makers of PPE and surgical instruments are based in China, where about 100,000 people may be trapped in forced labourOver a fifth of NHS suppliers providing items including surgical instruments, gloves, gowns and face masks are at high risk" of using modern slavery, according to a government review.Nearly half of all NHS suppliers of gowns and uniforms are based in China, which also provides the bulk of all masks. Continue reading...
Israel appears to be receiving munitions from stockpile, but there has been little transparencyTheir precise location is classified, but somewhere in Israel there are multiple closely guarded warehouses that contain billions of dollars' worth of weapons owned by the US government.Long shrouded in secrecy, the warehouses are part of an extensive but previously little-known stockpile now facing scrutiny as pressure mounts on the Biden administration over its support for Israel's bombardment of Gaza. Continue reading...
Globally successful restaurateur and food writer known as the godfather of avocado toast' dies peacefully in LondonThe Australian cook and restaurateur Bill Granger has died in London aged 54.Fellow cooks, celebrities and lovers of his restaurants paid tribute after the family of the food writer confirmed on Instagram he had died peacefully in hospital on Christmas Day. Continue reading...
Emergency services called to Penrith Beach on Boxing Day after a man was seen going underwater and not resurfacingA man's body has been found after a search at a newly opened beach in Sydney's west.Emergency services were called to Penrith Beach just after 2.30pm on Boxing Day after a man was seen going underwater and not resurfacing. Continue reading...
Writing on X, jailed Russian opposition leader said he was still in a good mood' after an exhausting transfer to the Polar Wolf' prisonThe jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he was fine" after a pretty exhausting" 20-day transfer to a penal colony beyond the Arctic Circle.The Kremlin critic's whereabouts had been unknown for more than two weeks, but he is in a penal colony in Russia's far north and has been visited by his lawyer, his supporters have said. Continue reading...
by Adam Fulton (now and earlier); Fran Lawther, Léon on (#6HCZZ)
This blog is now closed. See all our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereIraq's government has condemned overnight US air strikes on Iraqi military positions that it said killed one serviceman and injured 18 other people, calling them a clear hostile act".The US carried out retaliatory air strikes on Monday in Iraq after a one-way drone attack earlier in the day by Iran-aligned militants that left one US service member in critical condition and injured two others, Reuters reports. Continue reading...
Newly released 1999 briefing by Irish civil servant reveals lack of trust during tense peace negotiationsDavid Trimble was extraordinarily rude" to Tony Blair during tense negotiations about the implementation of the Good Friday agreement, accusing the then prime minister of laying a crude trap" for unionists, one Irish official wrote of the encounter in 1999.The meeting between Blair and Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionist party, took place in Belfast as the British prime minister and Ireland's taoiseach Bertie Ahern met all the Northern Ireland parties to discuss the steps that needed to be taken to implement the peace accord. Continue reading...
Conservatives also reportedly planning to cut inheritance tax in three months' time, as party struggles badly in pollsThe Conservatives could introduce a series of pre-election giveaways with measures to support first-time buyers and scrap inheritance tax, according to reports.With the Tories struggling badly in the polls and an election almost certain next year, the Times said the government is to promise to cut the upfront cost of a home for first-time buyers. Continue reading...
In unrelated cases, man held on suspicion of murder after death of 29-year-old in Nottingham and another man held after second deathMurder investigations have been launched after the deaths of two men in Nottingham and Workington, Cumbria, in separate incidents on Christmas Day.In Nottingham, emergency services were called to the scene on Wollaton Road at 8.15pm after a 29-year-old man was injured in an assault. He was taken to hospital by ambulance but died a short time later, Nottinghamshire police said. His family have been informed. Continue reading...
Met Office expects potentially hazardous conditions on the roads in all four nations, with only central UK escaping a wind warningDrivers have been warned of potentially hazardous conditions as Storm Gerrit hits the UK on Wednesday.A number of yellow wind and rain warnings are in place across much of the UK and wintry hazards are likely, forecasters have warned. Continue reading...
Sir David Omand tells parliamentary inquiry the platform should be restricted to background mood music'The former head of GCHQ has called for an end to the government handling crises over WhatsApp, saying the platform might suit gossip and informal exchanges but is inappropriate for important decision-making.Sir David Omand, who ran the UK intelligence service before becoming the permanent secretary of the Home Office and the Cabinet Office, criticised the way government was conducted in the pandemic and said future crises should be handled with proper process". Continue reading...
BBC showed nine out of 10 most popular shows, according to overnight data, with Strictly coming second and Doctor Who thirdKing Charles's Christmas broadcast came top of the TV ratings on Christmas Day, with the BBC showing nine out of the 10 most watched shows.The king's message, which reflected on the increasingly tragic conflict around the world", attracted an average of 5.9 million viewers, according to overnight ratings. Continue reading...
Reports party is considering options for processing asylum claims overseas criticised by SNP, charities and pressure groupsLabour has been warned that processing asylum claims offshore could harm refugees and amount to dancing to the Tory tune" on immigration, as it declined to rule out adopting such a policy.The party has been looking at offshoring" to deal with migration via illegal routes but charities, the SNP and the leftwing pressure group Momentum have said it would be a dangerous path to go down. Continue reading...
Series regular, who was described as effortlessly charming' by Fiona Bruce, died peacefully on Christmas morningOne of the most beloved experts on the Antiques Roadshow, pottery guru Henry Sandon, has died at the age of 95.Appointed curator of the Dyson Perrins Museum at the Royal Worcester factory in 1967, Sandon joined BBC One's Antiques Roadshow for its second series in 1979. Continue reading...
by Associated Press and Guardian staff on (#6HD6Z)
Blaze reported about 2am but was quickly contained and family living at property escaped safelyBeyonce's childhood home in Houston caught fire early on Christmas morning, though the family living there escaped safely.The fire was reported at about 2am on Monday. The local fire department arrived on the scene of the two-story brick house within three to five minutes, the Houston Chronicle reported. Continue reading...
by Rachel Hall (now) and Lili Bayer (earlier) on (#6HD10)
This live blog is now closed but you can read more on this story hereHere is a video of the large explosion in Crimea as a Ukrainian airstrike hit a Russian warship during an overnight attack on the Crimean port city of Feodosia, Russia's defence ministry and officials said.The Interfax news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying that Ukraine had used guided missiles launched by aircraft to attack Feodosia. Continue reading...
by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6HD72)
Exclusive: government to rebrand scheme amid fallout from Farage scandal that cost Alison Rose her jobA state-backed review into female entrepreneurship is to be rebranded by the government as part of efforts to cut ties with the former NatWest chief executive Alison Rose, months after pushing her to resign over a scandal linked to Nigel Farage's bank accounts.The Rose review" is to be renamed after the banking executive was asked by the department for business and trade to leave the project, and the next stages for the initiative are expected to be announced within weeks, the Guardian can reveal. Continue reading...
Actor criticizes company for firing him from show House of Cards over claims of sexual assault and says it exists because of himThe actor Kevin Spacey has claimed credit for putting Netflix on the map" and criticized the streaming platform for firing him from its show House of Cards over claims of sexual assault, some of which resulted in an acquittal during a summertime trial in the UK.It is bizarre that they decided to publicly cut ties with me on allegations alone - allegations that have now been proven false," Spacey said on Sunday in a Christmas Eve interview with Tucker Carlson on X, formerly known as Twitter. Because I don't think there's any question Netflix exists because of me. Continue reading...
Victim, a man in his 20s, pronounced dead after police and paramedics attended scene in TadcasterA man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an incident in a North Yorkshire town in the early hours of Boxing Day.The victim, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning shortly after police and paramedics arrived at Rosemary Court in Tadcaster. Continue reading...
UK caseworkers appear predisposed to discredit' applications, says senior figure of disbanded democratic movementA senior figure in the disbanded democratic opposition in Hong Kong has accused the Home Office of hardening its stance towards those fleeing the former British colony after a series of absurd" rejections of asylum claims.The rejection notices have demanded a contact address for a dissident leader who is in hiding from the Hong Kong authorities, included incorrect personal details, and cited a New York Times article as evidence that they could not have secured a passport if they were in any real danger. One applicant acquitted in Hong King of rioting' was told this showed that there was no danger to her although the authorities soon after sought to bring her back to court.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Thousands sign petition challenging Macron-backed restoration that would add contemporary design to buildingA plan backed by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to replace stained-glass windows in Notre Dame Cathedral's side chapels with contemporary creations has been criticised as vandalism".A petition has been signed by more than 120,000 people to retain the original windows. Critics say the change would destroy the architectural harmony of the historical building that was ravaged by fire in April 2019. Continue reading...
A 49-year-old man died of his injuries after a stabbing in Shoreditch in the early hours of Boxing DayTwo men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal stabbing in central London in the early hours of Boxing Day.Police and paramedics were called at about 3.10am on Tuesday to reports of a stabbing in Cranwood Street in Shoreditch, near Old Street underground station. Continue reading...
Author says he had to adjust to becoming another person' after injuries in Boxing Day fall last yearHanif Kureishi has spoken candidly of how his sense of self and privacy have been completely eradicated" after a fall on Boxing Day last year left him unable to use his hands, arms or legs.As guest editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the novelist and screenwriter also said he had to adjust to becoming another person" after the accident, which happened as he was walking in Rome. Continue reading...
Silvana one of potentially thousands who were unaware of need to apply for post-Brexit EU settlement schemeAn Italian environmental technology investor who has lived in the UK for 14 years has discovered she could be removed despite getting a permanent residency" card after Brexit.She is one of potentially tens of thousands of EU citizens who were unaware the Home Office changed the rules in 2019 requiring them to apply for a different scheme, called EU settlement. Continue reading...
Rapper posts message in Hebrew to social media, saying he is committed to making amends and promoting unity'Kanye West has apologised to the Jewish community" for a series of antisemitic remarks he made in 2022.In a statement posted in Hebrew on his Instagram account, where he has 18.2m followers, he wrote (as translated by Google): I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community ... It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity." Continue reading...
by Kiran Stacey and Richard Partington on (#6HD30)
Exclusive: Labour leader wants to finalise manifesto in February and move to campaign footing in anticipation of May voteKeir Starmer has ordered his frontbench team to finalise their manifesto policies within weeks as Labour moves on to a campaign footing before what officials believe will be a spring election.The Labour leader has told shadow ministers to have their policy proposals ready by mid-January in time for the manifesto to be completed by 8 February. He will also embark on a series of public question-and-answer sessions between January and March to highlight each of Labour's five missions, which he hopes will define the election. Continue reading...
Prof Mike Wooldridge will address looming questions around AI in this year's Royal Institution Christmas lecturesConfiding in ChatGPT about work gripes or political preferences could come back to bite users, according to an artificial intelligence expert.Mike Wooldridge, a professor of AI at Oxford University, says sharing private information or having heart-to-hearts with a chatbot would be extremely unwise" as anything revealed helps train future versions. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent on (#6HD13)
Chair says it is frightening' that a third of pubs are still being converted or demolished without planning permissionThe pub industry has faced one its toughest years to date, with businesses closing their doors in large numbers, according to the chair of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), as he criticised the government for failing to act after the Crooked House scandal.Nik Antona, head of the consumer group, said a frightening" number of pubs were still being demolished or converted without permission, despite the outcry over the destruction of the famously wonky Black Country pub. Continue reading...
Two women reported missing in flood waters in Gympie as Bureau of Meteorology warns of further thunderstorms on Boxing Day nightSevere thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected to continue to batter the east coast until at least Wednesday evening, as thousands of households remained without power on Boxing Day.Severe weather warnings have been issued for large parts of the New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland coasts, covering metropolitan areas as well as some regional areas. Continue reading...
Map shows 350 coal tips close to communities as UK government unwilling to take on costsEdmund Richards, who worked for 40 years as a miner, shakes his head sadly as he gazes at one of the many disused coal tips at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley in south Wales. They're on the move," he says. No doubt. From time to time, inspectors will come and have a look, and say all is fine, but everyone around here knows they are on the move, on the slide."It isn't always easy to spot the tips in this craggy landscape decades after most of the mines closed. Often, they are cloaked in scrub and trees but Richards, 80, says everyone who lives nearby knows where they are and is worried about them. They need to get on and sort them out once and for all," adds Richards. It's only a matter of time before something terrible happens." Continue reading...
More than 9,000 people given six to 12 months for shoplifting in past two years would now be made to do community serviceShoplifters will benefit most from the government's plans to impose a moratorium on jail sentences of less than 12 months in England and Wales, figures show.Despite Rishi Sunak's attempt to introduce tough sentences for criminals in the run-up to the general election, shoplifters, offenders convicted of battery, and those who have assaulted emergency workers, are the top three groups who will avoid prison under the government's new measure.Theft from shops - 3,848 / 5,289Common assault and battery - 3,153 / 3,071Assault or assault by beating of an emergency worker - 3,050 / 2,233Breach of restraining order (Protection from Harassment Act 1997) - 2,221 / 2,477Having an article with a blade or point in a public place - 2,089 / 2,346Driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence - 1,817 / 1,817Burglary with intent in a building other than a dwelling - 1,392 / 1,868Assaults occasioning actual bodily harm - 1,316 / 1,470Production, supply and possession with intent to supply a class B drug - 1,249 / 1,330Aiding, abetting, causing or permitting reckless driving - 1,430 / 1,260 Continue reading...
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